Inform is an adventure development system (compiler and library files) that produces Infocom-format game files. The latest release of the compiler is version 6.15 at present (though the Acorn version of Inform is still v6.13). A list of Inform-compiled games can be found at the address ftp.gmd.de/if-archive/info/inform_gamelist.txt, , though this is no longer being maintained. (A more up-to-date list can be found in the z-code file zfiles. Interpreters can be found at ftp.gmd.de/if-archive/infocom/interpreters/ - !Frotz and !Zip2000 are good choices for Acorn users. As far as games go, I recommend the following: Curses, Christminster, Jigsaw, A Change in the Weather (hard but well written) and Theatre.
If you feel adventurous and fancy writing your own adventure, the directory ftp.gmd.de/if-archive/infocom/compilers/inform6/ is for you. If the compiler has been ported to your machine, you will need the executable file and a copy of the core library files. (Compilers are in compressed format. There might already be a copy of the library files within the archive, so check first.) Then, grab the manual and a few source code demonstrations (Toyshop and Museum are recommended) and get learning! (The first thing I did when I was learning Inform was to mutate Toyshop into a futuristic game set on an alien planet.)
The official Inform homepage is at the address www.gnelson.demon.co.uk/inform.html, and is maintained by Inform's creator, Graham Nelson.
This page last updated 5 April 1998